Power will become dearer to subscribers of Reliance Energy Ltd by 19 per cent on an average for the period between April 24, 2007, and March 31, 2008, after the new tariff order was released by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The tariff for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking has already been increased 56 per cent to Rs 5.77 per unit. REL customers will now pay Rs 4.96 per unit at an average billing rate.

The cost of standby power has been fixed at 29 paise for all consumers except those falling below the poverty line.

The increase has been the least for consumers of units less than 500 per month. The tariff for them has been increased by 5 per cent. For REL, 80 per cent of its consumer base falls under this category. The highest increase has been for advertising and hoardings - almost 64 per cent.

Residential consumers, with consumption of between 300 units and 500 units would be charged a fixed cost of Rs 50 per month, while energy charge per unit would be Rs 5.60. They would pay 45 paise as the cost of expensive power.

However, for residential consumers using over 500 units a month, the fixed charge would be Rs 100 per month, with a higher energy charge of Rs 6.10 per unit and 80 paise per unit of expensive power.

Commercial users with consumption between 301 and 1000 units would bear a fixed component of Rs 200 per month, Rs 6.50 as energy charge per unit and 45 paise for expensive power.

For those using over 1,000 units, bills would be charged at Rs 7.40 per unit and the cost for expensive power would go up to 80 paise per unit.

For those using electricity for external advertising and hoardings, Rs 200 would be charged as fixed cost every month.

However, the cost of energy per unit would be as high as Rs 13.55 and the cost of expensive power billed at 80 paise per unit, charging such users and total of Rs 14.64 per unit of power, excluding fixed charge.

For multiplexes and shopping malls, the fixed charge would be Rs 300 per kilovolt ampere per month, while energy cost would be charged at Rs 7.40 per month, the standby charges and cost for expensive power remaining same as that for users of external advertising.

For the agricultural sector, Rs 15 would be charged as fixed component per month per horse power used. This sector has been exempted from bearing cost of expensive power. However, consumers in this category would pay 80 paise per unit of energy consumed.

Street lighting would cost Rs 5.90 per unit and 45 paise as charge for expensive power. The fixed charges would be Rs 300 per kVA per month for this category.